Toward the end of the Nazareth Academy football team’s regular season, junior and third-year starter Gabe Kaminski of Riverside made the switch from defensive end to middle linebacker.
“[It was] just learning the schemes, learning how to read [the opposition],” Kaminski said. “I played middle linebacker in youth ball, so I think I’m tapping into that a little bit. I picked it up pretty well.”
Already the Roadrunners’ leading tackler, Kaminski achieved his first interception of the season Saturday at the 15-yard line early in the third quarter of the Class 5A state championship game against Joliet Catholic at Illinois State University in Normal.
The play sparked the Roadrunners’ greatest half this season and completed one of the greatest comebacks in Illinois high school football history.
About to possibly fall behind by three scores, Nazareth instead scored 28 unanswered points in the second half and won 38-20 for its second state championship and fifth in program history.
The Roadrunners (9-5) overcame an 0-4 start to become the first team with five losses to even reach a state championship game. The 2022 5A champions (10-4) were the fourth in IHSA history to win a state title with four losses.
“I don’t really think when I play so I don’t know how much I’m going to remember, but celebrating with my teammates for sure,” Kaminski said.
“I’d say it’s a little bit sweeter [this season], going back to back and making more history. We were 2-4 last year and 0-4 this year. That’s just a testament to how [Nazareth coach Tim Racki] builds a schedule. It’s special for sure.”
Generally only 5-4 teams or better qualify but this year six 4-5 teams earned the last of the 256 playoff berths with the Roadrunners topping that list. Their 56 playoff points (combined victories of opponents) were the highest for any team in Illinois. All five teams they lost to were at least state quarterfinalists.
Nazareth lost its regular-season finale to St. Francis 35-17 but beat the Spartans 38-31 in the semifinals. Joliet Catholic (10-4), which lost to St. Francis 33-28, Sept. 22, led 13-0 Saturday.
“Once I started seeing our guys getting comfortable defensively and [quarterback Logan Malachuk] leading the offense and their getting into a rhythm in the second half, I’m like, ‘We’re going to be OK,’” Racki said.
“I thought I’d seen it all, but going in 4-5 and figuring it out [was memorable]. These kids are mature enough to listen to what we think our solutions can be and I also listen to them. When you have ownership like that, that’s when you figure out problems.”
Joliet Catholic led 20-10 at halftime and were on the verge of scoring again before Kaminski’s interception. His electrifying 32-yard return to the Nazareth 47 concluded with a brief skirmish after a penalized out-of-bounds tackle into the Nazareth sidelines.
The Roadrunners responded with a 3-yard TD pass from Malachuk to Jimmy Penley to close to 20-17 with 37 seconds left in the quarter.
“I think we were just building up to that point,” Kaminski said. “The offense was starting to click and after that [interception], we just took off.”
On their next three possessions, the Roadrunners gained the extended the lead with three consecutive three-play TD drives in the fourth quarter that covered 60, 80 and 46 yards primarily behind Malachuk, who was 23 for 34 passing for 414 yards and four TDs. Penley (7 catches, 163 yards, 2 TDs), Jake Cestone (4 catches, 163 yards, TD) and Trenton Walker (9 catches, 52 yards, TD) were his top receivers.
“Probably [our best half]. The defense got stops and on offense, we were just clicking on all cylinders. We couldn’t be stopped,” Malachuk said. “That [interception] got us all going. The fight and everything, it just got everyone going, amped up.”
Junior Johnny Colon of Brookfield was the holder for senior Andrew Fowler’s five extra points and 20-yard field goal that ended the first half. Even a missed 29-yard attempt on the Roadrunners’ first second-half possession after a defensive three-and-out indicated their fortunes were turning.
“Oh, by far that was the best half we played. The defense was lights out and the offense did what it had to do,” Colon said. “Last year was really special, but this time, we’ve really grown from an 0-4 start. Just celebrating with the team in the locker room after the game, it was amazing.”
Racki has coached all of Nazareth’s state champions since becoming head coach in 2005. He helped to persuade defensive coordinator Keith Lukes to move Kaminski to linebacker.
“I’m a defensive guy at heart. I wanted to put him at linebacker last year and then we finally pulled the trigger,” Racki said.
Stronger and 15 pounds heavier than last season, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Kaminski had 15 total tackles and 1.5 sacks Saturday to finish with team bests of 132 tackles and 18.5 sacks.
Already with numerous Division I offers, Kaminski was named all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association and Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Orange Division Lineman of the Year besides his third all-conference team.
“[Our success is] just our brotherhood and love for each other,” Kaminski said. “Just our perseverance. We never got down on ourselves. We took their punches and punched back. I don’t think we surprised ourselves. I knew what this team is capable of. We have so much young talent and the senior class is amazing.”
Penley put the Roadrunners ahead 24-20 with 9:53 left on a 53-yard TD catch in which he dragged the defender the final few yards into the end zone. Walker scored on a 4-yard catch following a 78-yard pass to Cestone, who had the final score on a 40-yard pass play with 3:36 to go.
Lesroy Tittle had Nazareth’s first TD on a 41-yard run in the second quarter. JCA running back HJ Grigsby had 223 of his 278 rushing yards and one TD in the first half. Grigsby admirably returned from a right ankle injury just before halftime that sidelined him only briefly.
Nazareth senior co-captain and all-conference defensive lineman Brendan Flanagan also excelled after missing two regular-season games with broken bones in both feet and having one foot in a cast. Flanagan returned after another doctor told him that he could play without causing further damage. Flanagan tweaked his left foot during Saturday’s game, limiting him to running plays.
“It was my senior year and I wanted to go out with a bang. It hurts a little bit but it’s worth it 100 percent,” Flanagan said. “I’ve kind of prided myself on being a leader so if I have a chance, I’m going to take my Advil and go out there and play.”